How to Clean a Floating Floor

Jennifer Hudock

Whether you have floating wood floors, or your floating floor is laminate, special care must be taken when cleaning. Proper care and cleaning will extend the life of your floors, giving you a good return on your investment. Regular hardwood floors are protected with sealant that allows water cleaning, but floating floors are often laid over other surface mediums and this means that water or other liquids could seep into the boards and cause warping, so conventional cleaning methods like mopping are not recommended.

1, 2, 3... Ketchup!

Step 1

Sweep floating floors regularly with a broom or dust mop to maintain dust and dirt accumulated through every day traffic. You may also use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to get dust out of corners.

Step 2

Spot clean with a mild cleanser and a damp cloth in the event of spills or other stubborn dirt. Do not use an abrasive scrubber when cleaning dirt and debris from the floor, as this may damage the surface.

Step 3

Never flood the floor with water if you need to mop up a spill, as this will cause permanent damage to the floor. Clean up any puddles of water immediately with a dry cloth or sponge.

Step 4

Clean stubborn nail polish, paint or crusted food stains with a cloth doused in a small amount of nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol. Gently wipe at the debris until it comes clean. Do not scrub.

Step 5

Don't panic if wax gets spilled on your floating floor. Wait for the wax to dry and cool, then scrape it away gently with a plastic scraper. After scraping, use a sponge and mild cleanser to wipe the area clean.

Step 6

Use a piece of ice to harden chewing gum and then scrape it off with a plastic scraping tool the same way you would scrape away wax. Follow up by gently wiping the area with a damp sponge and mild cleanser.

Step 7

Check manufacturer instructions before you clean your floor, as most manufacturers provide their own cleaning tips and instructions to help maintain the longevity of your floor. In some cases, manufacturers will provide their own brand of cleaner.